Reversible slider



DSC 8, 1942. l. GERSTMAN REVERSIBLE SLIDER Filed Aug. 22, 1940' f ATTNEYSW Patented Dec. 8, 1942 `2,304,082 REVERSIBLE SLIDER Irving Gerstman, Buffalo, N. Y. Application August 22, 1940, Serial No. 353,703

11 Claims.

'I'his invention relates to slide operated fasteners'of the type in which opposed series of fastener members are mounted respectively upon the edges of flexible stringers and are moved into and out of engaging relationship by means of a slider, and more particularly to a reversible slider.

'I'he present invention is particularly applicable to reversible garments having slide operated fasteners, that is, those garments which are lined with fabric materials which permit of their being worn inside out. Thus, it is awkward, if not impossible, for the wearer, after reversing the garment, to reach down inside of the same and operate the slider.

It is therefore the principal object of the pres-ll ent invention to provide a novel Atype of reversible slider for slide operated fasteners on reversible garments. The present Ainvention proposes to permit of completely removing the slider in order to reverse it when thegarment is reversed so that the slider can always be operated from the outside of the garment.

Another object of the present invention is to provide such a reversible slider with complementary, substantially parallel, spaced wings arranged on opposite sides of the fastener stringers, which wings can be separated farther apart to permit of operatively disconnecting the slider from the fastener stringers, the wings remaining substantially parallel while being separated.

Another object of the present invention is to provide such a reversible slider having overlying complementary wings with lock fastening means permitting separation of the wings but not total disconnection of these wings.

Another aim of the present invention is to pro'- vide the spaced wings of such a reversible slider with pin and recess locking means which prevent relative planar displacement of the wings when the same are in an operative position.

Another aim of the present invention is to provide such a reversible slider which is simple in construction, low in cost and which will stand up under conditions of severe use and wear.

In the accompanying drawing:

Fig. 1 is a side elevation of a preferred form of slider embodying my invention and illustrating the slider as operatively mounted on exible fastener stringers shown in dotted lines.

Fig. 2 is a front elevation of the slider and ing in section the slidable lock fastening means permitting separation of the Wings, the flexible fastener stringers being shown in dotted lines.

Figs. 4, 5 and 6 are views taken on the correspondingly numbered lines in Fig. 1.

Fig. 7 is a side elevation of a slider, generally similar to Fig. 1, but showing in section a modilned form of lock fastening means.

Figs. 8 and 9 are views taken on the correspondingly numbered lines in Fig. 7.

Fig. 10 is a fragmentary view similar to Fig. 7. but showing in section another modied form of lock fastening means.

Fig. 11 is a view taken on line I I'I I, Fig. l0.

Y In its general organization the present invention is directed to a reversible slider comprising complementary front and rear wings so formed as to provide converging guide channels for the fastener members which are suitably mounted on fiexible stringers, the fastener members being coupled together by the upward movement of the slider, as viewed in Fig. 2. The front and rear wings of the slider are held in spaced relation to 'each other, in the operative position of the slider as shown in Fig. 1, by interiitting connecting means mounted on the wings and rigidly holding them together, thereby preventing any rela-tive planar displacement of the wings. The wings of the slider yare also adapted to be separated to an inoperative position in which position the slider can be removed from the flexible stringers, reversed and replaced on the stringers and restored to an operative position after the garment on which the stringers are secured has k been reversed. The slider i s also provided with lock fastening means which permit of locking the wings of the slider when they are inan operative position to prevent their casual separation but which means areadapted to be unlocked to permit of separating the wings of the slider when it is desired to reverse the same.

Referring to the drawing and particularly to Figs. 1 6, the slider, generally indicated by the numeral I0, is adapted to be moved longitudinally of a pair of flexible stringers II and I2 which are provided on their adjacent marginal portions with a plurality of fastener members I3 of the usual type which are adapted to be coupled together by the upward movement of the slider I0, as shown in Fig. 2, thereby to effect a fastening together of the two stringers. In the present instance these stringers I I and I2 may, if desired, be considered as representing the opposite iiaps of a reversible garment which are to be brought together by the operation of the slider I0.

The slider I0 comprises complementary front and rear wings I4 and I5, respectively, the front wing I4 including a front wall I6 formed to provide a narrow lower portion which flares outwardly adjacent the upper portion of the wall and the top edge of this Wall preferably tapers slightly downwardly and outwardly on each side of a vertical median line, as indicated at I'I in Figs. 2

and 6. Each side edge of the front wall I6 is provided with a rearwardly projecting flange I8 preferably formed integrally with this wall. Adjacent its upper edge and centrally thereof the front wall I6 is formed to provide a rearwardly projecting neck I9 which is substantially triangular in cross section, as best shown in Fig. 6, this neck extending rearwardly preferably to a vertical median line when the wings I4 and I5 are arranged in their operative position, as best shown in Fig. 1. The rear face 20 of the neck I9 is provided with a pair of spaced bores or recesses 2I which extend forwardly perpendicularly tothe face 20 and the axes of these bores are preferably arranged in a transverse horizontal plane, as shown in Figs. 2 and 6.

The rear wing I of the slider I0 is of similar form to that of the front wing I4 and has a rear wall 22 of the same shape as that of the front wall I6, forwardly projecting side flanges 23 being provided on the opposite side edges of the rear wall 22 and the top edge of this wall tapering downwardly and outwardly as does the top edge of the front wall I6 as indicated at I1. A forwardly projecting neck 24 is formed on the forward face of the rear wall 22 adjacent the upper central part thereof which neck extends forwardly to a vertical median line as viewed in Fig. l. The neck 24 is provided with a fiat front face 25 which is preferably adapted to engage the rear face 20 of the neck I9 when the wings I4 and I5 are in their operative position, as best shown in Fig. 1. The neck 24 is of substantially triangular shape in cross section similar to the cross sectional shape of the neck I9, the front face 25 of the neck 24 being provided with a pair of forwardly projecting pins or studs 26 which are adapted to engage the correspondingly formed bores or recesses 2I when the slider is arranged in its operative position.

To prevent casual separation of the wings I4 and I5 of the slider when they are in their operative position and yet permit these wings to be separated to an inoperative position when it is' desired to reverse the slider, lock fastening means are provided which are preferably constructed as follows:

In the form of lock fastening means shown in Figs. 1-6 the upper central portion of the rear Wall 22 of the rear Wing I5 is extended upwardly to provide the rear wall 'extension 29. A guideway member 30 extends forwardly past the vertical median line at right angles to the rear wall extension 29, as best shown in Fig. 1. This guideway member 30 comprises a top Wall 3I, and side walls 32 extending downwardly from opposite edges of the top wall, these side walls being flanged laterally inwardly as indicated at 33. Thus it will be seen that this guideway member 30 is C-shaped in cross section, as best shown in Fig. 6. The top wall 3| adjacent its forward end is provided with a depending finger or projection 34 which is preferably formed by punching the same in the top wall.

The upper central portion of the front wall I6 of the iront wing I4 is similarly extended upwardly to provide the front wall extension 35 which is bent at right angles to form the arm 36, this arm extending rearwardly past the vertical median line, as best shown in Figs. 1 and 5. This arm 36 is adapted to be engaged slidingly by the forwardly projecting guideway member 30 formed on th'e rear wing I5. The arm 36 on its upper side is provided with a longitudinal groove 31 which is provided adjacent its front end with a recess or depression 38 which is adapted to receive the depending finger or projection 34 formed in the top wall 3| of the guideway member.

Any suitable handle means may be arranged on the slider to permit of sliding the slider back and forth longitudinally ofthe stringers II and I2, the handle means shown comprising a handle or ringer piece 60, one end of which is cut out to provide inwardly projecting fingers 6I which are pivotally mounted in recesses 62 provided in a member B3, this member being suitably secured to the front wall I6 of the front wing I4.

When the wings are in the operative position, as best shown in Fig. 1, the nger 34 engages the recess 38 and locks the Wings against their casual separation. When it is desired to separate the wings I4 and I5 and reverse the slider, as when the garment is reversed, the wearer lcan manually separate the wings, thereby causing the projection 34 to disengage the recess 38, the projection 34 riding in the groove 31 as the wings are pulled apart and complete separation of the wings is prevented by contact of the projection with the rear end of the groove, as shown in Fig. 3. It will be noted that the planes of the wingsin their separated and inoperative position are substantially parallel just as they are when the Wings are in their operative position. When the wings I4 and I5 are in this separated or inoperative position the pins 26 and bores 2| are also disengaged. It will be noted that in this inoperative position the Wings are completely out of contact and locking engagement with the fastener members I3 carried by the stringers I I and I2, as shown in Fig. 3. It will therefore be seen that the separated slider can be removed from the stringers whereupon the garment can be reversed and the slider replaced on the stringers and restored to an operative position. When restoring the slider to its operative position the wings thereof are held in place with respect to the fastener members I3 and then compressed so that the projection or finger 34 engages the recess 38, thereby locking the parts in this operative position, the bores 2| receiving the pins 26 as the Wings are compressed together.

A modified fonn of lock fastening means is'.

shown in Figs. 7-9, the remaining elements of the slider being similar to the construction of the elements shown in Figs. 1-6 and hence the same reference numerals have been applied to these elements. In this modified form the upper central portion of the rear wall 22 of the rear wing I5 is extended upwardly to provide a rear Wall extension 40 which is formed to provide a forwardly extending guideway member 4I which comprises a top wall 42, side walls 43 and 44, and inwardly projecting flanges 45. The upper central portion of the front wall I3 of the front Wing I4 is also extended a short distance upwardly to provide the front Wall extension 4S formed to provide the rearwardly extending arm 41 which is adapted to ride on the flanges `45 of the guldeway member 4I. Adjacent its rear end the arm 41 carries a pin 48 which is adapted to ride in a' slot 49 provided in a spring member 50 which is interposed between the top wall 42 of the guideway member 4I and the arm 41. This spring member 5U is provided with a depending locking nger or projection 5I which is engaged by a re- .cess or hole 52 provided in the arm 41 near its front end, the spring member '50 being so arranged as to tend to urge and yieldingly hold the finger 5I in engagement with the hole 52. The finger I is preferably formed by punching it down from the spring member 50, the front end of the spring member also being preferably bent or hooked around the front edge of the top wall 42, as indicated at 53.

When it is desired to separate the wings of the slider, the wearer raises the front end of the spring member 50 by inserting his fingernail under the hook 53 thereby withdrawing the finger or projection 5I from the hole 52. The arm 4'I can then be withdrawn from the guideway member 4 I, the pin 48 carried by the arm 4l riding in the slot 49 provided in the spring member 50. After the wings have .thus been separated and the slider removed from the stringers the garment can be reversed and the slider replaced and restored to its operative position, as shown in Fig. 7. With the exception of the operation of the modified form of lock fastening means the operation of the slider shown in Figs. '7-9 is similar to that of the slider shown in Figs. 1 6.

Another modified form of lock fastening means is illustrated in Figs. and 1-1, the remaining slider construction being similar to that shown in Figs. 1-6 and Fig. 7 and hence the same reference characters have been applied. As shown in Figs. 10 and 1l, the lock fastening means comprises a guideway member indicated generally-at 65 provided on the rear wing I5, this guideway member being rectangular in cross section and including a bottom wall 66, top wall 6T, side walls 68, 69 and an end wall 69. The top wall B1 extends forwardly across the front wing I4 and is provided adjacent its forward end with a depending projection 1I). The front wing I4 is provided with a rearwardly extending part II of rectangular form in cross section so as to slidingly engage the guideway member 65. On its upper side the part 'II is provided with a pair of spaced recesses 'I2 and 13.. It will therefore be seen that when the wings I4 and I5 are in their operative position shown in Fig. 10 the projection I0 formed on -the forwardly extended top wall 6l engages with the recess 13. When the wings I4 and I5 are separated to an inoperative position the projection I0 can be lifted out of the recess I3 by inserting the fingernail under the slightly upturned front end of the top wall 67 and the front wing I4 pulled away from the rear wing- I'5. Complete disconnection of the wings can be effected by not permitting the projection to engage with the recess 'I2 but if it is desired to separate but not completely disconnect the wings the projection 'I0 can be received by the recess 12 in which position of the parts a relative separation of the Wings has been effected thereby to permit of removing the slider from the stringers II and I2.

From the foregoing it will be seen that the present invention provides a slider construction which is especially adaptable for use with slide operated fasteners on reversible garments. Further, the wings of the slider are yieldingly locked in an operative position by lock fastening means which, when unlocked by the wearer, permit of the separation of the wings so that the slider as a unit can be removed from the stringers of the garment while the garment is being reversed reversed stringers, the handle of the slider always being on the outside of the garment so that the The form of slider illustrated in Figs. 10 and 11 -is particularly desirable because the two wings can be completely separated and each independently applied to the garment, this procedure saving many sewing operations in the application of the slider to the garment. Also, in the manufacture of the slider, the front and rear wings can be made separately so that either type is replaceable if it becomes inoperative by another of the same type thereby avoiding the necessity of replacing the whole slider.

It is also to be understood that a slider made in accordance with my invention may be provided with locking means to hold the slider in a locked position relative to the' stringers, this locking means usually cooperating with the handle or ngerpiece 60. A

wearer can also operate the slider from the outside of the garment. It will also be noted that the slider is of sturdy construction and will not get out of order through severe and constant use.

I claim as my invention:

1. A slider for slide operated fasteners, comprising overlying spaced wings, and means detachably connecting said wings and providing direct substantially parallel planar separation of said wings in a direction normal to said wings, comprising a pin fast to one of said wings and projecting laterally therefrom in a direction normal to said wings, the other of said wings being provided with a hole coaxial with and slidingly receiving said pin, means for holding said pin in said hole, and means for preventing relative rotation of said wings about the axis of said pin and hole.

2. A slider for slide operated fasteners, comprising overlying spaced wings, and means detachably connecting said wings and providing direct substantially parallel planar separation of said wings in a direction normal to said wings, comprising opposed necks provided on said wings in position to engage each other and an interlocking pin secured to one of said necks and f1tting in a bore formed in the other of said necks.

3. A slider for slide operated fasteners, comprising front and rear complementary wings each of which has a Wall, said walls lying in substantially parallel planes and being arranged in overlying spaced relation to each other, and detachable connecting means arranged on the opposed faces of said walls to join and maintain said wings in said spaced relation, said connecting means comprising a pin fast to the wall of one of said wings and projecting laterallyfrom said opposing face in a direction normal to said wall, the wall of the other of said wings being provided in its said opposing face with a hole coaxial with and slidingly receiving said pin, means for holding said pin in said hole and means for preventing relative rotation of said wings about the axis of said pin and hole.

4. A slider for slide operated fasteners, comprising front and rear complementary wings each of which has a wall, said walls lying in substantially parallel planes and being arranged in overlying spaced relation to each other, a neck formed on the upper central portion of the rear face of the front wing wall and projecting rearwardly therefrom, a neck formed on the uppe;` central portion of the front face of the rear wing wall and projecting forwardly therefrom, a pin pro'- jecting from the neck of one of said wings in a direction normal to said wings and slidingly tting a coaxial hole provided in the neck of ,the`

other wing, and means for holding said pin in said hole and preventing relative rotation of said wings about the axis of said pin and hole to secure said necks together thereby to prevent any planar displacement of said wings when said wings are in an operative position and also to permit of a direct substantially parallel planar separation of said wings in a direction normal to said wings.

5. A slider for slide operated fasteners, comprising front and rear complementary wings each of which has a wall, said walls lying in substantially parallel planes and being arranged in overlying spaced relation to each other, a rear-- wardly projecting neck formed on the rear face of the front wing wall adjacent the upper central portion thereof, said neck being provided with a rear face, a forwardly projecting neck formed on the front face of the rear wing wall adjacent the upper central portion thereof, said last mentioned neck being provided with a front face, and interlocking pins and bores formed on said front and rear faces to secure said necks together thereby to prevent any planar displacement of said wings when said wings are in an operative position and also to permit of a direct substantially parallel planar separation of said wings in a direction normal to said wings.

6. A slider for slide operated fasteners, comprising overlying spaced wings. means connecting said Wings and providing direct substantially parallel planar separation of said wings in a direction normal to said wings, and lock fastening means yieldingly locking said wings in an operative position to prevent casual separation of said wings comprising a guideway member formed on .one of said wings, an arm formed on the other of said Wings, said arm being adapted to engage slidingly said guideway member and an interlocking projection and recess formed in said guideway member and said arm.

7. A slider for slide operated fasteners, comprising overlying Wings arranged in substantially parallel planes, separable means connecting said wings and providing Vdirect substantially parallel planar separation of said wings to an inoperative position in a direction normal to said wings, and lock fastening means yieldingly locking said wings in an operative position to prevent casual separation of said Wings comprising a guideway member formed on one of said wings and extending perpendicularly therefrom, an arm formed on the other of said wings and extending perpendicularly therefrom, said arm being adapted to engage slidingly said guideway member, and an interlocking projection and recess formed in said guidewayland said arm; said lock fastening means being arranged above said separable ccnnectng means.

8. A slider for slide operated fasteners, comprising overlying wings arranged in substantially parallel planes, separable means connecting usaid Wings and providing direct substantially parallelV planar separation of said wings to an inoperative position in a ldirection normal to said wings, and lock fastening means yieldingly locking said i)wings in an operative position to prevent casual iseparation of said Wings comprising a guideway Amember formed on one of said wings and exltending perpendicularly therefrom, a projection adjacent the outer end of said guideway member and extending downwardly therefrom, an arm formed on the other of said wings and extending perpendicularly therefrom, said arm being provided on its upper side with a recess adjacent its inner end and a groove extending longitudinally of said arm and outwardly from said recess,

said arm being adapted to engage slidingly said guideway member, said projection yieldingly engaging said recess when said wings are in an operative position and said projection riding in said groove when said wings are being separated fromy an operative position to an inoperative position.

9. A slider for slide operated fasteners, comprising overlying wings arranged in substantially parallel planes, separable means connecting said Wings and providing direct substantially parallel planar separation of said wings to an inoperative position in a direction normal to said wings, and lock fastening means yieldingly locking said wings in an operative position to prevent casual separation of said wings comprising a guideway member formed on one of said wings, an arm formed on the other of said wings, said arm being adapted to engage slidingly said guideway member, a spring member interposed between said arm and said guideway member, an interlocking projection and recess formed in said arm and said spring member, said spring member yieldingly holding said projection in said recess.

l0. A slider for slide operated fasteners, comprising overlying wings arranged in substantially parallel planes, separable means connecting said Wings and providing direct substantially parallel planar separation of said wings to an inoperative position in a direction normal to said Wings, and lock fastening means yieldingly locking said v Wings in an operative position to prevent casual separation of said wings comprising a guideway member formed on one of said wings, an arm formed on the other of said wings, said arm being adapted to engage slidingly said guideway member, a pin arranged on said arm adjacent its outer end, a spring member interposed between said arm and said guideway member, said spring member being provided with a longitudinal slot which engages said pin, an interlocking projection and recess formed in said arm and said spring member, said spring member yieldingly holding said projection in said recess.

11. A slider for slide operated fasteners, comprising front and rear complementary wings each of which has a Wall, said walls lying in substantially parallel planes and being arranged in overlying spaced relation to each other, a rearwardly projecting neck formed on the rear face of the front wing well adjacent the upper central portion thereof, said neck being provided with a rear face, a forwardly projecting neck formed on the front face of the rear wing wall adjacent the upper central portion thereof, said last mentioned neck being provided with a front face, interlocking pins and bores provided on said front and rear faces to secure said necks together thereby to prevent any planar displacement of said wings when said wings are in an operative position and also to provide direct substantially parallel planar separation of said Wings to an inoperative position in a direction normal to said wings, and lock fastening means yieldingly locking said wings in an operative position to prevent casual separation of said wings comprising a guideway member formed on one of said wings, yan arm formed on the other of said wings, said arm being adapted to engage slidingly said guideway member, and an interl 

